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Confirming the status of residual tumors is crucial. In stationary or spontaneous regression cases, early treatments are inappropriate. The long-used geometric calculation formula is 1/2 (length × width × height). However, it yields only rough estimates and is particularly unreliable for irregularly shaped masses. In our study, we attempted to propose a more accurate method. Between 2004 and 2014, 94 patients with pituitary tumors were enrolled in this retrospective study. All patients underwent transsphenoidal surgery and received magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The pre- and postoperative volumes calculated using the traditional formula were termed A1 and A2, and those calculated using the proposed method were termed O1 and O2, respectively. Wilcoxon signed rank test revealed no significant difference between the A1 and O1 groups (P = 0.1810) but a significant difference between the A2 and O2 groups (P

Supplementary materials. The clinical information of the excluded cases and causes of mortality in this study are included in the supplementary material. (DOCX 17 kb)

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is currently a major cause of morbidity and poor quality of life in Western society, with an estimate of 2.5 million people affected per year in Europe, indicating the need for advances in TBI treatment. Within the first 24 h after TBI, several inflammatory response factors become upregulated, including the lectin galectin-3. In this study, using a controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of head injury, we show a large increase in the expression of galectin-3 in microglia and also an increase in the released form of galectin-3 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 24 h after head injury. We report that galectin-3 can bind to TLR-4, and that administration of a neutralizing antibody against galectin-3 decreases the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα and NOS2 and promotes neuroprotection in the cortical and hippocampal cell populations after head injury. Long-term analysis demonstrated a significant neuroprotection in the cortical region in the galectin-3 knockout animals in response to TBI. These results suggest that following head trauma, released galectin-3 may act as an alarmin, binding, among other proteins, to TLR-4 and promoting inflammation and neuronal loss. Taking all together, galectin-3 emerges as a clinically relevant target for TBI therapy., A.C.-J. is supported by a pre-doctoral fellowship from Spanish Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte. This work has been supported by grants from the Spanish Ministerio SAF2015–64171R (MINECO/FEDER, UE), Blizard Research Theme grants, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London. M.A.B has been funded by the Barts Charity Centre for Trauma Sciences (C4TS) and the Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund (ISSF).

Decompressive hemicraniectomy (DC) can save the lives of patients with malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction. We proposed that postoperative midline shift is important for the long-term outcome of patients with MCA infarction. We conducted a retrospective study of DC in 38 patients with malignant MCA infarction. The long-term outcome was assessed one year after surgery using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score. Patients who had midline shift less than the optimal diagnostic cut-off point on the fourth postoperative day were classified as having a successful decompression and the remaining patients were classified in the failed decompression group. The successful decompression group mRS score was 4.20±0.89 one year after surgery and the failed decompression group mRS score was 5.11±0.76 (p

Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) has played an increasing role in the treatment of osteoporotic compression fracture. The number of prior vertebral fractures and prior vertebroplasties are important risk factors for future fractures. We prospectively evaluated the effectiveness of teriparatide therapy for 28 patients who had repeated and multiple new-onset vertebral compression fractures (VCF). None of the patients required PVP or experienced a new-onset vertebral fracture during the treatment and follow-up period of at least 18 months. Teriparatide therapy significantly decreased visual analogue scale pain scores, increased Japanese Orthopaedic Association function scores, increased spinal bone mineral density, and prevented new-onset VCF. Teriparatide can be used in patients who have repeated and multiple new-onset painful VCF to avoid repeated vertebroplasty. Therapy should continue for at least six months to ensure it is effective.

Background and purpose: The clinical features of pituitary adenomas were retrospectively analyzed, focusing on the factors that contribute to the development of pituitary hemorrhage. Although many causes of pituitary adenoma hemorrhage have been identified, it is difficult to distinguish which conditions are truly causative. We determined the independent variables that contribute to pituitary hemorrhage in pituitary adenoma. Methods: Two hundred and eighty-eight consecutive patients diagnosed as pituitary adenoma were enrolled. These patients underwent tumor removal through endoscopic transsphenoidal approach. The subjects were divided into hemorrhagic and non-hemorrhagic groups, based on magnetic resonance images and histological findings. The predisposing factors were reviewed in the medical records for all patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the relationships between variables of pituitary adenoma hemorrhage. Results: We investigated 81 patients in whom hemorrhage from pituitary adenoma occurred. The incidence of pituitary hemorrhage was 28.1% (81/288). The predisposing factors surveyed for pituitary hemorrhage were significantly associated with macroadenoma, non-functional adenomas, anticoagulation therapy, end-stage renal disease, dopamine agonist treatment, and underlying malignant disease (all P

BACKGROUND Mandibular bone fracture associated with traumatic cervical subluxation is a rare injury. The diagnosis of a traumatic cervical subluxation is more easily delayed than other conditions in patients with mandibular bone fractures. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of traumatic cervical subluxation associated with mandibular bone fractures. METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study of 653 consecutive emergency department patients with mandibular bone fractures investigated for evidence of concomitant traumatic cervical subluxation. RESULTS This study reports on 7 patients (1.07%) with a diagnosis of traumatic cervical subluxation from a cohort of 653 with mandibular bone fractures as a result of motor vehicle accidents. Two of seven patients had their diagnosis made while in the emergency room, thus, 71.43% of these injuries were discovered on studies done up to 10 days after the trauma, including after surgical correction of the mandibular bone fracture. CONCLUSION The importance of a thorough initial examination (both physical and radiologic) and suspicion of traumatic cervical subluxation in patients with mandibular bone fractures is worth emphasizing as delayed diagnosis and management could result in permanent neurologic injury. We suggest dynamic flexion-extension cervical radiographs and thin-slice computerized tomography scans in patients with mandibular fractures routine as an important and routine practice protocol.

Object The management of subdural empyema (SDE) has been debated in the literature for decades. Craniotomy and bur hole drainage have been shown to achieve a favorable outcome. However, there is a lack of comparative data for these modes of management of SDE subsequent to meningitis in infants. Methods The authors conducted a retrospective review of 33 infants identified with SDE due to meningitis at the Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between 2000 and 2006. Preoperative clinical presentation, duration of symptoms, radiological investigations, CSF data, and postoperative outcome were analyzed and compared between these 2 surgical groups. Results At diagnosis, there were no differences between the groups in age, weight, degree of consciousness, CSF analysis, or duration of fever. The outcome data showed no difference in the number of days until afebrile, number of days of postsurgical antibiotic treatment, neurological outcome, recurrence rate, or complication rate. There was only 1 death in the series. Conclusions Subdural empyema due to meningitis in infants is unique with respect to the pathophysiology, presentation, and treatment of SDE. Early detection and removal of SDE provide a favorable outcome in both surgical intervention groups. Bur hole drainage is less invasive, and it is possible to expect a clinical outcome as good as with craniotomy in postmeningitic SDE.

Xanthogranuloma of the sellar region is rare. It typically causes symptoms of pituitary dysfunction or visual change due to compression of the optic chiasm. However, to the best of our knowledge, no case of xanthogranuloma-associated hydrocephalus has been documented in the literature. This study describes a 32-year-old man afflicted with xanthogranuloma of the sellar region who presented with acute change in consciousness and associated obstructive hydrocephalus. A literature review and discussion regarding therapeutic options for this condition are presented.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid that is essential in brain development and has structural and signaling roles. Acute DHA administration is neuroprotective and promotes functional recovery in animal models of adult spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the mechanisms underlying this recovery have not been fully characterized. Here we investigated the effects of an acute intravenous bolus of DHA delivered after SCI and characterized DHA-induced neuroplasticity within the adult injured spinal cord. We found robust sprouting of uninjured corticospinal and serotonergic fibers in a rat cervical hemisection SCI model. A mouse pyramidotomy model was used to confirm that this robust sprouting was not species or injury model specific. Furthermore, we demonstrated that corticospinal fibers sprouting to the denervated side of the cord following pyramidotomy contact V2a interneurons. We also demonstrated increased serotonin fibers and synaptophysin in direct contact with motor neurons. DHA also increased synaptophysin in rat cortical cell cultures. A reduction in phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) has been shown to be involved in axonal regeneration and synaptic plasticity. We showed that DHA significantly upregulates miR-21 and downregulates PTEN in corticospinal neurons. Downregulation of PTEN and upregulation of phosphorylated AKT by DHA were also seen in primary cortical neuron cultures and were accompanied by increased neurite outgrowth. In summary, acute DHA induces anatomical and synaptic plasticity in adult injured spinal cord. This study shows that DHA has therapeutic potential in cervical SCI and provides evidence that DHA could exert its beneficial effects in SCI via enhancement of neuroplasticity.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTIn this study, we show that an acute intravenous injection of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 30 min after spinal cord injury induces neuroplasticity. We found robust sprouting of uninjured corticospinal and serotonergic fibers in a rat hemisection spinal cord injury model. A mouse pyramidotomy model was used to confirm that the robust sprouting involved V2a interneurons. We show that DHA significantly upregulates miR-21 and phosphorylated AKT, and downregulates phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), which is involved in suppressing anatomical plasticity, in corticospinal neurons and in primary cortical neuron cultures. We conclude that acute DHA can induce anatomical and synaptic plasticity. This provides direct evidence that DHA could exert its beneficial effects in spinal cord injury via neuroplasticity enhancement.

The objective of the present study was to determine whether selective inflammatory cytokine concentrations within cerebrospinal fluid are useful markers for the differential diagnosis of aseptic and bacterial meningitis within neurosurgical patients.Prospective, open-label, observational, cohort study.Neurosurgical ICU, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.Thirty-two consecutive neurosurgical patients who had postoperative fever following external ventricular drain insertion for the treatment of brain injury underwent serial cerebrospinal fluid cytokine analysis pre and post fever to determine the value of such markers in ascertaining the differential diagnosis of meningitis.Cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected on the day of fever onset, as well as on day 2 and 4 pre and post fever development. Tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, transforming growth factor-β, and procalcitonin were subsequently analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis techniques.Inflammatory marker levels were compared among febrile aseptic, bacterial, and nonmeningitis patients to determine cerebrospinal fluid inflammatory changes over time. Significant increases in cerebrospinal fluid tumor necrosis factor -α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 levels were observed within patients with bacterial meningitis at fever onset, which was not evident in aseptic or nonmeningitis patients. Furthermore, significant increases in cerebrospinal fluid tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 levels were detected as early as 4 days prior to fever onset within patients with bacterial meningitis when compared with both aseptic and nonmeningitis groups. Interestingly, procalcitonin was only significantly increased in patients with bacterial meningitis on the fourth day post fever.The present study suggests that raised cerebrospinal fluid tumor necrosis factor -α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-8 in a temporal manner may indicate early bacterial meningitis development in neurosurgical patients, enabling earlier diagnostic certainty and improved patient outcomes.

Primary angiosarcoma of the spine is rare. To our knowledge, primary angiosarcoma in the posterior element of the spine has not been reported previously. A 39-year-old man suffered progressive numbness and paresis of the bilateral lower limbs. Neuroimaging showed a large dorsal extradural tumor compressing the spinal cord at the T11 level with bony destruction of the left foramen and posterior elements. Spinal angiography revealed a hypervascular tumor in the left T11 region. Successful preoperative endovascular embolization, laminectomy and removal of the tumor were performed.

Background Traumatic spinal epidural hematoma (TSEH) is a rare neurosurgical condition that according to conventional treatment requires prompt surgical decompression. Recent reports, however, suggest that conservative management within the acute phase after trauma also can lead to similar long-term functional outcomes without the need for immediate neurosurgical intervention. Case Description In the present paper, we describe 2 cases of TSEH located in the ventral upper cervical spine, which presented with delayed neurologic deficits. In both cases, conservative management with steroid treatment was initiated before neurosurgical decompression, resulting in improved neurologic outcomes. Conclusions Urgent surgical decompression may not be necessary acutely in patients with TSEH who respond well to conservative therapy. Although there is currently no consensus for the initial management strategies, steroid treatment could individually tailored and applied according to the clinical condition and evolving symptoms.

The accessory middle cerebral artery can provide collateral blood supply in moyamoya disease. We report a case of unilateral moyamoya disease which demonstrates the anatomy of the right accessory middle cerebral artery and a ruptured peripheral aneurysm on the artery. Our patient was a 56-year-old woman who initially suffered from headache and lethargy. Right caudate nucleus hemorrhage with intraventricular extension and spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage were found on brain computed tomography. A ruptured peripheral accessory middle cerebral artery aneurysm associated with unilateral moyamoya disease was diagnosed on cerebral angiography. Surgical intervention to excise the peripheral accessory middle cerebral artery aneurysm assisted by frameless navigation guidance to reduce the risk of damage to collateral vessels was done successfully. Histopathology of excised tissue showed this anomaly was a pseudoaneurysm. The management of an aneurysm in moyamoya disease should be modified based on its location and collateral vessels. Prevention of aneurysm bleeding and preservation of collateral vessels during craniotomy are the critical when managing hemorrhagic moyamoya disease. This case suggests that surgical intervention for ruptured intracranial aneurysms is safe with the use of frameless navigation guidance to minimize collateral vessel injuries.

The management of subdural empyema (SDE) has been debated in the literature for decades. Craniotomy and bur hole drainage have been shown to achieve a favorable outcome. However, there is a lack of comparative data for these modes of management of SDE subsequent to meningitis in infants.The authors conducted a retrospective review of 33 infants identified with SDE due to meningitis at the Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between 2000 and 2006. Preoperative clinical presentation, duration of symptoms, radiological investigations, CSF data, and postoperative outcome were analyzed and compared between these 2 surgical groups.At diagnosis, there were no differences between the groups in age, weight, degree of consciousness, CSF analysis, or duration of fever. The outcome data showed no difference in the number of days until afebrile, number of days of postsurgical antibiotic treatment, neurological outcome, recurrence rate, or complication rate. There was only 1 death in the series.Subdural empyema due to meningitis in infants is unique with respect to the pathophysiology, presentation, and treatment of SDE. Early detection and removal of SDE provide a favorable outcome in both surgical intervention groups. Bur hole drainage is less invasive, and it is possible to expect a clinical outcome as good as with craniotomy in postmeningitic SDE.

The clinical features of pituitary hemorrhage vary from asymptomatic to catastrophic. Clinical symptomatic pituitary apoplexy is a well-described syndrome characterized by sudden headaches, visual impairment, hypopituitarism and, at times, impaired consciousness. Subclinical pituitary apoplexy is characterized by minimal atypical clinical manifestations and, as a result, may be misdiagnosed or inappropriately treated. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical manifestations, surgical outcome and post-operative pituitary function in patients who had clinical or subclinical pituitary apoplexy. We retrospectively identified 65 patients (30 men, 35 women; age range 21-87 years, mean age 48.4 years) who underwent transsphenoidal surgery. Of these, 25 patients were diagnosed as having clinical apoplexy, while the remaining 40 patients were classified as having subclinical pituitary apoplexy. The follow-up period ranged from 21 to 73 months (mean 44 months). Vision improved in 14 of 22 patients with clinical apoplexy (64%) and in 26 of 28 patients with subclinical apoplexy (93%) (p=0.017); the total resection rate was 57% and 42%, respectively (p=0.285). After 2 years of follow-up, hormone replacement therapy was needed in only 26% and 36% of patients, respectively (p=0.149). Our findings suggest that the incidence of subclinical pituitary apoplexy is higher than that of clinical pituitary apoplexy. Both the tumor resection rate and mean age were higher in those with clinical pituitary apoplexy, while those who had subclinical pituitary apoplexy demonstrated better visual improvement. During long-term follow-up, the need for hormonal replacement decreased in both groups.

Vocal cord paralysis caused by lower cranial nerve paralysis originating from skull base fracture is rare. Delayed unilateral glossopharyngeal and vagus nerve paralysis after minor head injury is extremely rare. In this paper, we present the case of a 49-year-old man who sustained delayed-onset right vocal cord paralysis and dysphagia in a fighting accident. High-resolution computed tomography of the skull base revealed a bony disruption in the wall of the jugular foramen. Cranial nerve paralysis may be a distinguishable sign of skull base fracture in head injuries. Considering the severe consequences of the injury, comprehensive neurological and radiological examinations are required to evaluate the condition of the skull base. Such patients can be treated conservatively with nasogastric or gastrostomy feeding to avoid choking and aspiration. Thyroplasty may be considered for patients in whom choking persists for more than 6 months.